Can washer



y 1 3 P. R. ARMSTRONG 2, 19,306

CAN WASHER Filed Feb. 10, 1937 Patented May 31, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to milk can steaming v devices, otherwise known as can washers.

More particularly, the invention pertains to a device within which to generate steam to be discharged from a nozzle into inverted empty milk cans for releasing adhering cream, and for sterilizing purposes as well.

The main object of the invention is to so construct a machine of the type named that the generated steam to issue from a nozzle may be released through the latter by an intake of outside air thereto by Which to produce added velocity of steam discharge, thereby providing a quicker and better action.

Another object is to provide for the increased velocity of steam-jet action by induction of air while providing for complete control of the rate of flow of the induced air.

Other objects and advantages in the device will be made known in, the following specifications aided by the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 shows in perspective, the device involving the invention, and

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same.

Illustrated in the figures is an enclosure including a bottom I, and sides and ends 2 and 3 respectively.- A partition 4 is spaced above the bottom I, the same extending from one of the end walls 3 toward the opposite end but terminating in spaced relation to the latter, thence being extended into an upstanding wall 5, which, in the present instance, extends somewhat above the sides 2, the end 3 nearest it also having substantially the same height whereby a steam-box 6 is created within which, near its top, is a member I inclined downwardly to the end 3, which closes the steam-box except for an opening 8 therethrough in which a nozzle 9 is fixed which extends beyond the top of the described structure, there being one or more slats Ill for supporting an inverted milk can II to be treated. Opening through the wall 3 at the lowest point of the member I is a spout I. Spaced above the partition 4 is a second partition Il forming the bottom of a washing tank l2, said partition terminating in spaced relation to the wall 5 and extending into an outer wall I3 spaced from and paralleling said wall 5, the space between the two walls being closed at the top by a wall M. Thus an air space I5 is created between the Walls 4 and I I and between the extensions 5 and I3, there being a hole in the latter at IE or other desired position by which the said air space I5 may communicate with the outer air.

Connected into the space between the bottom wall I and the described partition 4 is an air inlet box ll provided with a'valve I8 at the opening thereof, operated by a convenient lever I9.

The outlet from the box I! opens below the I wall 4 and at a position spaced above the bottom wall I, it is observed, and a nozzle 20 in the side wall 2 lies at a position substantially on a level with the bottom of the named outlet to the end that the level of the bulk of water will be maintained at or just below such outlet.

Above the steam-box 6, and in this instance, hinged thereto, is a boxlike structure 2| closed on all sides,.including its top, the front thereof being provided with convenientdoors 22, part of its bottom being open as at 23, the opening being covered by a perforate bottom 24 which, however, has an opening to permit the nozzle 9 to extend therethrough. This structure 2| may be pro vided with a shelf 25 of perforated metal or it may be of heavy screen wire, Figure 2, and in order to provide considerable capacity the said structure may be extended beyond an end wall 3,

the extended portion being closed by a tight bottom 26.

In use, water is placed within the device as already stated, the same being heated by suitable burners A, and water to any depth may be held in the tank I2.

Created steam will, of course, issue from the nozzle 9 in varying velocities depending upon the quantity of air admitted to the steam-box 6 through the air-intake box I! as controlled by the valve l8. Quite naturally, the considerable heat within the steam-box 6 would create a strong pull through any'opening leading thereto, the induced draft resulting in a high velocity of steam ejected from the nozzle, and the velocity is governed by the adjustment of the said valve I8. That is to say, when a can being processed is difficult to quickly treat for the release of adhering substance the valve may be adjusted to increase the velocity and the temperature, whereas cans more easily treated need not require so great heat, and steam may be conserved by the use of a lower velocity.

The space I5 separates the lower wall of the tank l2 from the highly heated steam below, and yet the water in said tank may always be held at a sufficiently high temperature for can washing without discomfort to the hands of the worker.

Air in the space I5 which will expand by the not be used, is found to be convenient for sterilizing bottles and other articles placed therein at times when cans such as 10 are not to be processed. It is understood that after the can has been steamed and sterilized, together with the bottles of the structure 2 I, all may be transferred to the tank l2 for final washing.

Although having described and shown a proposed form of the device it is to be understood that changes may be made such as may lie within the inventive act and within the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A can washer including in its construction a body adapted for holding water, means for maintaining the water at a constant level in said body, a heater for said water to produce steam, a nozzle extending from the body above the water level for leading said steam from a cavity of said body into a can to be washed, a wall spaced above and substantially paralleling the bottom wall of the body andspaced above the maintained level of the water, one extremity of said wall terminating at an outer wall of the body, said wall extending to said steam cavity, a free passage being created above the said level of the water and beneath the thus spaced wall extending from said outer wall to said cavity and in communication therewith, there being an opening in said outer side wall below said spaced wall andnozzle and above said level of the Water to communicate with said passage and through which air is inducted into said passage, and a valve for controlling the velocity of air travel through said opening and passage into the steam cavity of said body.

2. A can washing machine including in its construction a body having a cavity within which to create and hold steam, a steam and air discharge nozzle leading from the cavity of the body, a steam generating heater, a laterally extending tubular part communicating with said cavity distant from the nozzle and having its bore at an angle to that of said nozzle, the space of said part being open through and outside the body, an adjustable valve for controlling air admitted to the cavity through said tubular part, said tubular part and part of said body adapted for holding heated water over which the air flows from said valve, a wall spaced from a wall of the tubular part and likewise spaced from the steam holding cavity, and together with part of the side walls of the body forming a tank spaced from said tubular part and cavity for holding water heated in said body.

3. A can washing machine including in its construction a body including side and end walls and a closed bottom wall, a heater for said body, two walls spaced from each other and from one of the end walls of the body and extending toward and spaced from the said bottom wall, and terminating at the other end wall of the body and abutting the side walls of the latter forming a tank open at its top and adapted to contain water, the spaced walls and the bottom of the body creating a passage, the named spaced walls and said one of the end walls of the body together with a top wall of the latter forming an enclosure for steam, a nozzle connected into and extending from such enclosure, the bottom wall of the body and the named passage adapted to hold water, there being an opening into said passage above the bottom thereof and the water therein, and a valve for varying the rate of air flow through said opening into and through said passage toward the nozzle.

PAUL R. ARMSTRONG. 

